Hygrostat.



B. L. CUSHING.

HYGROSTAT. APPLICATION FILED SEPT-". I917. 1,282,196. Patented Oct. 22, 1918.

Arrazwvzy ple and cheap to manufacture,

each-side thereof. These flanges are p I whereby the UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BRUCE I. CUSHIN G, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

u. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 22, 1918.

Application filed September 4, 1917. Serial No. 189,695.

To aZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, BRUCE L. Ousnme, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city" of Buffalo, county of Erie, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hygrostats, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates generally to humidifying apparatus and more particularly to an automatic means for controlling the percentage of moisture content in a room or inclosure.

The principal object of my invention has been to provide a hygrostat which will automatically control air valves or motors, whereby the moisture content of the air may be maintained at a predetermined point.

Another object of'my invention has been to provide a hygrostat which will compensate for. changes in temperature.

A further object has been to provide a device which will be very simple in its construction, as well as certain and reliable in its operation. Moreover, my device is simand the parts are so arranged as to not easily get out of order.

The above objects and advantages have been accomplished by the combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings, of which Figure l is an ext rior view of my device on a reduced scale.

Fig. 2 is a transverse, vertical, sectional elevation, taken on line 22- of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse, sectional view, taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse, on line 44 of Fig. 2..

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal, fragmentary, .sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the compensating plate.

Fig. 7 is a transverse, sectional view, taken on line 77 of Fig. 2.

My devicecomprisesa supporting member 8, which is provided with a flange 9 at sectional view taken vided with suitable apertures, device may be secured to any port; 7 V

Extending into the top of the'base are two ports 10 and'll. They are each provided at their outer endswith screwthreads. To the outer end of the supply port 10 is suitable suptype which operates.

supporting member by means secured an inlet pipe 12,through which air under pressure is conducted to the device. An outlet airpipe 13 is screwed into the outer end of the outlet port 11 and connects this port with the damper or valve which controls the spray inlets or other humiditying means employed. This damper or valve and the humidifying means do not form a part of my inventlon and are, therefore, for clearness of illustration, not shown in the drawings. The humidifying damper or valve is of the normal pressure typethe when the pressure is released. A duct 14 connects the supply port 10 with the outlet port 11; and engaging with the end; of this port is the outer end of a regulating screw 15, carried by the supporting member 8. By means of this screw the amount of air passing into the port 11 and through the outlet pipe 13 to the humidifying damper or valve is controlled. 16 is a relief from the under face of ber. This valve is provided with a cen ral aperture 17, which is open at its outer end to the atmosphere and connected at its inner end with the duct 14 by means of a valve duct 18. 19 is a valve lever, the outer end of which is arranged to close the central aperture 17 and the relief valve 16. The inner end of this lever is carried by a spring 20 which keeps the outer end of the lever normally in contact with the outer end of the relief valve.

21 is a compensating plate which is arranged some distance below the supporting member 8. This plate is connected with the of two brass compensating rods 22 and two steel compensating rods 23. The steel compensating rods 23 are arranged-near the center of the device and the brass compensating rods 22 are arranged near the free end of the valve lever 19. These rods are rigidly secured at their upper ends to the supporting member 8, and are pivotally secured at their lower ends to the compensating plate 21. A pin the supporting mem- 24 is carried by each of the rods near their valve which projects At the side are arranged outwardly extending arm 2? and an upwardly extending arm 28.

29 is the hygroscopic member of my device. This member comprises an upper islz 30 having a screw threaded stud 31, and a lower disk 32 having a screwthreaded stud 33. Each of the disks is provided with a plurality of perforations, and the hygroscopic strands are passed through the perforations and stretched between the disks. T he perforations of the disks are preferably of a circular arrangement and the strands in a zig-zag manner. The stud 31, at the upper disk, is securely fastened to the inner end of the valve lever 19; andthe stud 33 of the lower disk, is secured to the arm 27 of the bell-cranl lever 26. As shown in Figs. 2 and 7, the dish 32 is proided with two outwardly extending ears 3%, whereby a slot 35 is formed. ln this slot is disposed the upwardly extendlng arm 28 of the bell-crank lever, whereby, when the stud33 is adjusted, the dish 32 will be prevented from rotating. The studs 31 and 33 are each provided with adjusting nuts, whereby the tension of the hygroscopic member may be altered. Arranged centrally of the compensating plate 21 is a regulating device which comprises a central shaft 36 to the upper end of which is attached an eccentric 37. A helical spring 38 is arranged about the shaft and disposed between the eccentric and the upper surface of'the compensating plate. Beneath the compensating plate is arranged a stop collar 39, which is secured to the shaft 36 and provided with a stop arm 40. Arranged on the under side of the compensating plate are two stop pins all and '12, with which the stop arm 40 is engageable. T he eccentric 37 is arranged to have its surface engage with the upwardly extending arm 28 of the bell crank lever 26;

' and the lower end of the shaft 36 is provided with a flattened surface 43, whereby the shaft may be conventiently rotated.

The supporting member 3 is provided with a downwardly extending screwthreaded portion 4%, attached to which is an outer casing 45. This casing protects all of the working parts and is closed at its lower end by means of a cap 416. in this cap is provided a plurality of apertures 4i! and a central aperture 48 which registers with the shaft 36. The lower'end of the shaft 36 is just above the lower surface of this cap, whereby a key (not shown) is necessaryto effect an adjustment so that the device cannot be tampered with by any unauthorized person. in the central part of the supporting member 8 is a vertical air passage a9, communicating with which is a horizontal air passage or aspirator duct 50, in the outer end of which is secured an aspirator cone 51. 52 is an aspirator nozzle whichis secured to the base at inner end of the aspirator duct 50, and arranged to project astream of air through the aspirator cone. The central aperture of the nozzle is connected with the air supply port 10 by means of an air passage 53.

When the device is in use, air from the supply pipe 12 will be forced through the aspirator, thus inducing a current of air to pass through the apertures 47 in the cap d6, over the hygroscopic member 29 and through the aspirator duets i9 and 50, and cone 51. By this means, a sample of the air is taken from the room or inclosure which is having its humidity controlled by the "device.

the roomhas the proper humidity, the outer end of the valve lever 19 will close the relief valve 16, whereby the pressure of the air upon the humidity controlling damper or valve will keep such damper or valve closed. lf, however, the humidity of the sample of air drawn through the device is below the predetermined point, as is well known, the strands of the hygroscopic member 29 will shrink, thus shortening the member, and, thereby, raising the valve lever 19, against the tension of the spring 20, and opening or less depending upon sample of air. Nhen opened, the air pressure in the air controlled system is thereby reduced, which allows the humidifying dampers or valves to be operated and thereby supply additional moisture to the room or inclosure. The predetermined point at which the relief valve will be operated can be controlled by means of the eccentric 37, which, when rotated, will move the arm 2? toward or away from the valve lever 19.

When temperature changes occur within the room or inclosure the compensating rods 22 and 23 will operate to keep the pivotal point of the bell-crank lever 26. at substantially the same distance from the pivota end of the valve lever 19. The co-efiicient of expansion of the brass rods 22 being greater than the co-efficient of expansion of the steel rods 23, this desired result is accomplished.

the dryness of the lVhile l have shown and described my device in connection with humidity controlling devices which are normally under pressure, it is obvious that I may use my device in connection with humidity controlling devices which are normally under no pressure. in adapting the device to the latter type of humidifying apparatus, it is only necessary.

that the spring pivotal point of the valve lever be placed at the opposite side of the connection of the stud 31 thereto. Uther modifications of the details herein shown and described may be madewithout departing from the spirit of my inventionor the scope of the appended claims; and El do not,

lVhen the air contained within the relief valve 16, more.

the relief valve is member formed of a circular member in a zig-zag manner, said strands incense ripherally perforated disk, a lower periph disk, means for adjusterally perforated disks in the hygrostat,

ably mounting the i and a series of hygroscopic strands, threaded back and forth through the-disk perforations, for connecting the disks.

V 3. A hygrostat comprising a supporting member, a compensating plate arranged opposite the s'upporting'member, a plurality of compensating rods having diiferent'cotension on the substantlally uniform under varying temeach rigidly secured at one end to the sup orting member and pivotally secured at th compensating plate, and a hygroscopic memefiicients of expansion,

ber arranged between the supporting member and the compensating plate, whereby the hygroscopic member is kept peratures.

4. A hygrostat comprising a supporting member, acompensating'plate arranged opposite said supporting member,

of compensating rods having difierent co- 'eflicients of expansion,-each rigidly secured the supporting member andpivotally secured at'the 'other end to the 40 ber arrange compensa pensating arran e tension at one end to and a hygroscopic membetween the supporting member and the com ensating olate, comprising a series of strange arranged transversel said member in a circular manner and ongitudmally of said compensatindg plate,

5. .A hygrostat comprising a supporting member, a compensating plate arran ed opposite the supporting, member, a p urality of compensating "rods having diiferent .co-

eiiicients of expansion, each rigidly secured at one end to the supporting member and pivotall'y 'securedat-the other end to'the tin plate, means for taking up lost motion hetween the rods and plate,- and a hygroscopic member between the supporting member e compensating plate, whereby the on: the hygroscopic member is kept and t of hygroscopic. strands,

, cured to one e other end to themember and connected with the I and means controlled a plurality nectedwit-h the of' .with't member in a zig-zag the coin .within t e supporting member, an outer cas-.

I mg secured togth arranged about; the} the com- I signed substantially uniform under varying temperatures. y 6. A hygrostat comprising an upper peripherally perforated disk, a lower peripherally perforated disk, means for adjustably mounting the disks in the hygrostat,'a series threaded back and fort through the disk perforations, for connecting the disk, and meansfor adjusting the tension of the hygroscopic strands. 7. A hygrost'at' comprising a supporting member, a compensating plate, means con vnectingthe supporting member and the compensating plate, a hygroscopic member arranged between the supportmg member and the compensating plate, and means for adjusting the'tension on the hygroscopic member, comprising a bell-crank lever pivotally 1 carried by the compensating plate-and-having one end of the arm thereof, an eccentric engaging 'w'iththeoth'er arm of the. bell-crank lever, and means for rotating the eccentric. 8.- A. hygrostat 'comprisingia :supporting member provided with unobstructed inlet andoutlet ports for compressed air and a duct connectingthe mlet and outlet ports, a relief. valve carried by'.the supporting not, a ygroscopic member, by the hygroscopicmember for operating the-reliefvalve.

. 9. A hygrosta't co member provided with inlet'and out for compressed airla d aduct connecting the inlet and outlet ports, a relief-valve carried by the supportlng member and conduct, a hygroscopicmember,

hygroscopic member 'se rising a supporting V et ports arelief valve 'lever'resiliently mounted on the supportingmember-v for governing the orifice of therelief valve, and'means for connectin oneend of the hygroscopic member e relief valve lever; I

10. A .hygrostat. comprising3asupporting i member, .a compensating plate, means connecting the supporting'member and the compensat ngplate, a,

hygroscopic member ar-.

ranged-between; the supporting member and ensating'plate', an aspirator formed supporting member and and a perforated cap secured tothe lower end of the casingpwherebya current of an 15 drawn by. the 'a;spirato1': throuihjthe casing and overrthej hygroscopic mem er.

In testimony whereof,' I" have hereunto my name?" M BRUCE L. GUSHIN hygroscopic member, 

